Fall Prevention for Older Adults

Improving Independence in the Home Environment: Assessment and Intervention

Bathroom | Bedroom | Medications | Kitchen | Living Room | Telephone | Steps | Home Management | Safety | Leisure

Kitchen

Problem Potential Intervention
Open flames and burners
  • Microwave
  • Hot plates
  • Meals on wheels
  • Auto shut off
  • Electronic toaster oven
  • Crock pot
  • Frozen dinners
  • Individual coffee maker
Access items
  • Place commonly used items within easy reach
  • Adjust height of counters, cupboards, drawers
  • Lazy susans
Hard to open refrigerator
  • Foot lever
Carrying items
  • Slide across counter
  • Use cart
  • Walker basket or tray
  • Bridge items surface to surface
  • Eat at counter sitting on stool
Difficulty seeing
  • Increase number of lights
  • Contrasting colored china, placemats, napkins
  • Utensils with brightly colored handles

Note: The interventions described in this assessment serve only as suggestions. A complete assessment of a person’s individual needs should be conducted by a team of licensed and trained professionals. Any intervention or modification to a building must comply with local, state, and federal laws and building codes. In apartments or rental homes, written permission to make modifications should be obtained from the landlord, owner, or property manager. Architectural interventions should be assessed by a licensed architect and carried out by a licensed construction contractor.

Bathroom | Bedroom | Medications | Kitchen | Living Room | Telephone | Steps | Home Management | Safety | Leisure

 

 

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Family Development & Resource Management
2251 TAMU
College Station, Texas
77843-2251
phone: 979.845.3850
fax: 979.845.6496
fdrm@tamu.edu

Food & Nutrition
2253 TAMU
College Station, Texas
77843-2253
phone: 979.847.9227
fax: 979.847.8741

[Texas AgriLife Extension Service]

[Texas A&M System]